The new UKIP leader has said he could capture a badger and kill it with his bare hands.

The party's fourth leader made the strange remark when asked by Sky News’ Niall Paterson who about a report in the Sunday Times which referenced an interview Bolton gave to Russia Today, in which he was asked about possible initiation ceremonies for UKIP leaders.

Bolton replied that “the one that was probably most suitable for me was chasing a badger across Dartmoor, capturing it and then breaking its neck with one’s bare hands, which was a slightly unusual thing.”

Bolton, a former soldier, police officer and diplomat, was elected as UKIP’s leader in September after receiving the backing of Nigel Farage.

In the interview Bolton, who was seen as the more moderate candidate in the leadership election, was quizzed over a range of topics associated with the right-wing party including banning the burqa, faith schols and immigration.

The former soldier said that in an "ideal world" Britain should be aiming for zero net migration.

Am I safe? (Image: PA)

But Henry Bolton said he was not suggesting this to be practical, noting it would be "very difficult" to hit such a target.

He added he did not want to provide an "arbitrary" figure as "nobody listening here will really believe" it can be hit.

"But the chances of hitting zero net immigration, it's a very difficult target to hit - for no other reason than the fact net immigration is also affected by the number of people who leave the country, and we can't control how many people leave the country.

"So in terms of the overall number of people coming in, yeah, the ideal would be to bring it down to zero."